The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1887-08-13


that seemed likely to prove both expen-
sive and dangerous.
II don't recon it's so much of
thing to own bear all by yourself"
he said, as he scratched his head. II
don't really understand how I came to
draw him. reckon he'll behave HIM
self in there, and not go to work and
scare all the horses out of the country.
Wonder what father will say when he
sees that bear? Reckon maybe he'll
say he'll tan my hide"
Ben went away for awhile. and left
the bear to his new quarters. But he
couldn't stay away from his '.prize"
long. He had to come back to the
granary.
He peeped through knot-hole. but
Bruin was not in sight. He went up to
the loft above. opened scuttle. and
looked into the granary. The bear
was sitting bolt upright in the middle
of the floor, holding his head on one
side, and looking about him in a
peculiarly knowing way. He evidently
thought that his new master had been
careful of his interests in providing
such fine abode for hum, and giving
him such handsome things to look at.
As Ben gazed down at him, the bear
rose on his hind feet gravely. walked to
the wall, and deliberately pulled down
handsome silver-handled whip. which
was Mr.. Kennison's particular pride,
and began to chew at the handle. He
evidently thought it was something
good to eat.
20, see here!'' roared Ben, from his
perch above the granary; this thing
wont do. You let 60 that whip or it
will be bad for you"
He really forgot, for the moment.
that the bear could not understand
him. But Ben declared, when he told
the story, that the bear did understand
him, and laughed, and went on trying
to eat the whip until he had reduced
that article to a shapeless mass. Then
he dropped it and looked for something
else to do.
What will he take nextP" thought
the now frightened Ben, as he saw the
twinkling eyes of the bear wandering
along the walls of the room.
"Here, don't touch that! Get Quit!
shouted Ben, shaking his fists at the
bear. Don't touch thatr'
The bear had his eyes on that silver
plated harness in which Mr.. Kennison
especially delighted, and Ben's re-
searches in natural history were likely
to have painful ending. Again the
animal stalked gravely to the wall,
from which he dragged down the har-
ness and at once proceeded to dissect
it.
"Here! Let that aloner' shouted
Ben, frantically. He caught up lot
of blocks which lay on the floor and be-
gan to hurl them at the bear. The ami
NAL paid not the slightest attention to
them, but continued to pick the harness
to pieces, until it was as useless as the
whip.
g 20 dearr' sighed Ben, as he looked
down into the granary; ''what did I
want with bear? Every thing was
going all right, and / was sure that
father would come back and say what
q good manager had been, and now
it's just awful! What is he after nowP
Wouldn't he like to have me go out and
drive in a pig for him? or may be he
could enjoy young Injin; tn ere's
lots of them out here by the MORA.
There he goes again.
The bear had again reached out his
paws and taken into them handsome
gray wolf-robe and was tearing it to
pieces. growing as he did so. and at
the same time plainly enjoying himself.
Ben. meanwhile, sat above the scuttle.
looking down, pale and excited. and
wondering if whips and harness and
robes would satisfy his hunger, or if he
would break out and eat up the fences.
I'm get even with the man that sold
me that bearr' he said. Forty dollars
father paid for that wolf-robe. o, i'll
had gun! It's getting dark, and 1
haven't had my supper, and I've got to
sit here and watch him or some one
will 60 into the granary and get bitten.
Something has gotto be done. Ireckon
I'd better go and get Indian John to
shoot the big brute
Ben hurried down the ladder and ran
out into the farm-yard.
Time had been passing swiftly. and
it was nearly dark. Just as he got to
the barn-yard gates they swung open
and Farmer Kennison rode in.
The horse had scarcely reached the
barn-door when he suddenly gave .
wild snort of fright and made such a
sudden spring that he threw Mr.. Ken
nison out, and before he could be stopped
he was running RAPIDLY across the